Genuine Appreciation

ROBERT HUGILL at a concert by
Londinium City Voices

Londinium City Voices is a young group in more ways than one; founded in 2005 and based in the City of London, the group consists of some twenty singers of all ages but with young voices predominating, directed by the talented young conductor Nicholas Jenkins.

Their latest programme, Joy Sorrow Song, was performed on Tuesday 30 October 2007 at the Church of St Mary le Bow [London UK]. The centrepiece of the programme was a striking trio of 20th century a capella choral works: Debussy's Trois Chansons de Charles d'Orleans, Howells's Requiem and Richard Strauss's challenging and rarely performed Die Göttin im Putzzimmer.

The programme opened with Giovanni Gabrieli's Jubilate Deo. Nicholas Jenkins' very relaxed tempo meant that we could hear the choir's fine line and clear sound to good effect. Occasional hesitancies not withstanding, the choir provided a strong legato and good sprung rhythms.

This was followed by a group of three Italian madrigals. It is hard to bring off these works with a large group, especially in an acoustic as resonant as St Mary le Bow. But under Jenkins' fine direction the choir managed it with Andrea Gabrieli's Sassi, Palae, Sabion del Adrian lio, helped by some lovely soft singing. A little untidiness did not detract from the overall effect of some lovely smooth lines.

Continue >>